The Nigeria Police Force has stated that individuals over the age of seven can be prosecuted
This announcement follows the backlash surrounding the arraignment of #Endbadgovernance protesters on Friday
Muyiwa Ogunjobi, the police spokesperson, made this comment during an interview with Channels Television, defending the charges against 76 minors arrested during the protests from August 1 to 10, 2024, who are facing allegations of treason and other offenses.
Reports indicate that one of the minors fainted in court, and the court later granted bail set at N10 million for each suspect. This situation has drawn significant condemnation from the public.
In response to the outcry, Ogunjobi emphasized that all protesters charged are over the age of seven, clarifying that a 13-year-old suspect is not exempt from prosecution.
He stated, “Once you are over 7 years old, you can be charged to court… None of them is less than 7… The fact that you are 13 years old does not mean you can’t be charged.”
Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, condemned the arraignment, highlighting the hardships faced by the minors under Tinubu’s government.
Similarly, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International Nigeria have called on Tinubu’s administration and the court to release all 76 minors.
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